How can a pilot best determine burner BTU availability?

To determine burner BTU availability effectively, a pilot should focus on the fuel pressure gauge. The fuel pressure gauge provides real-time information about the fuel delivery system's performance, which directly affects the burner’s efficiency and output. A consistent and adequate fuel pressure ensures that there is enough fuel available to maintain the desired burner temperature and, consequently, the heat output measured in BTUs (British Thermal Units). If the fuel pressure is too low, it can indicate inadequate fuel supply, leading to a reduction in burner efficiency and available BTUs.

While inspecting the fuel tank visually can provide some insight into fuel levels, it does not give specifics about the immediate operational capacity of the burner. The burner temperature gauge measures the temperature of the burner but does not directly indicate BTU availability, as temperature alone does not account for fuel flow rate or pressure. Consulting the pilot’s operational manual is valuable for overall operational guidelines and specifications but does not provide the immediate, actionable data that the fuel pressure gauge does.